Disgraced Track Coach Defends Himself

Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, February 8, 2003

Charlie Francis defended himself Sunday after world 100-meter record holder Tim Montgomery and three-time Olympic champion Marion Jones dropped him as their coach.

Montgomery and Jones, who are romantically linked, had been working with Francis but cut ties with him last week after receiving widespread criticism from the track world.

Francis was coaching Ben Johnson when he advised him to take steroids. The Canadian tested positive after winning the 100 meters at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was stripped of his medal.

"I've had a practice for 15 years and haven't been involved in drugs in any way," Francis told the BBC.

Francis said that he had not discussed drugs at all with Montgomery and Jones.

"I'm there as a technical consultant _ period," he said.

Canada's track and field federation banned Francis for life in 1989. While prohibited from coaching members of Canada's national team, he is allowed to work with other athletes.

Francis said he has worked with many athletes, and believes a big deal was made of his ties to Montgomery and Jones because of their high profile.

"Lots have people have worked with me over a period of time. The question is of course the public nature of this because of who they are," he said. "I think they (Montgomery and Jones) felt confident in themselves, they knew they were within the rules and felt that this was OK."

But Francis said he understood why Montgomery and Jones ended their association with him.

The International Association of Athletics Federations, the sport's world governing body, welcomed Jones' decision to break with Francis, saying she acted "not just in her own best interests but for the good of the sport."

Francis had been working with Jones in Raleigh, N.C.

"What could they do? The pressure became more and more unbearable, I'm sure," Francis said. "I'm quite amazed … that they were able to hold out as long as they did. I hope at least that whatever contribution I've made will outweigh the aggravation they suffered as a consequence.

"They are fantastic people and it was an unbelievable privilege to work with them at all."

Francis said that he deplored the use of drugs but would not say how widespread drug abuse was in athletics.

"That's not my business one way or another," he said. "It's nothing I can draw an opinion on _ or control.